The gift of chartering unfamiliar territories
Why losing your way could be a blessing
As we grow older, we come to realize that it’s okay to get lost in our travels. I identify as someone directionally challenged. On the road, without the aid of GPS (global positioning system) or navigation applications like Waze or Google Maps, I am more directionless than a plankton aimlessly floating in the ocean. To this day, I still get disoriented passing through the main streets en route to my condominium complex, which has been my home for over two years.
Many tourists, even the most welltraveled ones, end up losing track of their locations. There are still places with weak, sometimes even nonexistent, signals and GPS.
Losing your bearings could be stressful. It could be frightening to wander in unfamiliar spots and to try and communicate with people who speak a different language, especially in locales with limited access to technology.
Needless to say, taking detours does have its benefits too. It shows us, for one, the inherent kindness of people. After all is said and done, someone is bound to offer their assistance in dire straits. Ask politely and they’ll be a finger ready to point you in the right direction.
Figuring out the correct path also empowers.
It gives us a sense of accomplishment that we are capable of getting to places with or without the support of technology or others.
Sometimes wandering off the beaten path is exactly what we need to find ourselves.
One time I was having a very bad week. I was caught between work and business and for the first time in a long time, I was experiencing burnout. I was busy rush-writing a book while needing to fulfill orders for my online enterprise. My obligations were eating me whole. On top of that, I inadvertently agreed to take part in an event, which required me to travel from Manila to Rizal for a half-day glamping affair.
Because I had confirmed my attendance, I had to hold out on my chores for a day and drive to Antipolo. I booked a bed and breakfast near the event venue so I wouldn’t have to wake up early the next day and go through bad traffic. As anticipated, the traffic on the West Service Road was horrific. I would have lost my patience if it were not for the car I was driving, the Ford Territory Titanium X, lent to me by a friend for the trip.
The car’s sensor helped me effortlessly maneuver through the service road filled with motorcycles that would squeeze themselves through every available nook and cranny passable regardless of how impossibly tight the spaces were.
It was nighttime when I survived the incorrigible traffic of Manila. Having reached Manila East Road, my bad luck continued. I took a wrong turn from Angono, leading me to East Ridge, otherwise called the Col. Guildo
Climb. As the name suggests, the mountain road was a challenging, steep, and winding ascent. Admittedly, I had fun testing out the limits of the automobile, as I had to drive through a narrow, twisting, and mostly vertical path.
Near the peak, I found Cityscape Coffee, a charming hillside café that affords visitors a breathtaking view of the Manila skyline. The capital looked so tiny. The lights emitted by the buildings and vehicles from below appeared like a cluster of fireflies in the darkness of the night.
It was a much-needed break that I got to take accidentally.
Sometimes, getting lost teaches us that life isn’t always about getting where we want to be, but where we are supposed to be.
The following day, my event got canceled. So, I instead went for a brief drive around the mountainous roads of Antipolo, with the sunroof open and my skin soaking up the gentle rays of the sun.
Outside of Manila where there is less traffic, driving is a balm to the senses. Driving an exceptional automotive adds to the pleasurable experience. I have always been a supporter of Ford Philippines, so I take delight in learning that the company has a Year-end Sale (YES).
“The most wonderful time of the year has finally come. We want to celebrate the Christmas season in a big way and make our customers say yes to their dream vehicle with bigger cash discounts for our bestselling vehicles, as well as new
Getting lost teaches us that life isn’t always about getting where we want to be, but where we are supposed to be.
cash discounts for their favorite Ranger pick-up truck,” says Ford Philippines managing director Mike Breen.
Next-gen Ranger 2.0L Bi-turbo Wildtrak 4x4 now comes with an ₱80,000 cash discount. The Next-gen Territory Titanium 1.5L Ecoboost and the Next-gen Territory Titanium X 1.5L Ecoboost, on the other hand, are discounted by ₱40,000 and ₱30,000, respectively. Financing deals are also up for grabs. Promos run until Dec. 31, 2023 only.
“Now is really the best time to say yes to creating new memories and experiences on the road with your loved ones,” closes Mike. ford.com.ph